Feminist News

Cain Accuser May Be Released from Confidentiality Agreement

The National Restaurant Association will decide today whether to release a former employee from a confidentiality agreement in her sexual harassment complaint against Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain of sexual harassment from a confidentiality agreement. After registering a complaint with the National Restaurant Association, the woman received a $35,000 severance package, contingent on her agreement to the confidentiality provision. The woman, currently a federal government worker, indicated her desire to release a statement regarding Cain's misconduct, refuting his denial of sexual harassment.

To date, Cain has been accused of exhibiting suggestive sexual behavior towards at least three former employees during his tenure as CEO of the National Restaurant Association in the 1990s. According to Politico, which broke the story, a former board member for the National Restaurant Association recalled events surrounding one of the women's complaints, stating that, "She was offered a financial package to leave the association, and she did. What I took offense at was that it was clear that rather than deal with the issue, there was an effort to hush it up. She was offered a way out to keep quiet."

The restaurant industry employs approximately 12.8 million people, with women holding the majority of hourly wage positions. Companies represented by the National Restaurant Association generated approximately $604 billion in sales in 2010 and include McDonald's, Wendy's, and Starbucks.